Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.

Dismiss

Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer

97 views

Skip to first unread message

Arte...@major.com

unread,

May 22, 2009, 12:03:25 AM5/22/09

Price:$999.00
Image: http:///image.php?id=B000UY6KDW
Best deal: http:///index.php?id=B000UY6KDW

After approximately 5 months of irregular use by only one person, the Schwinn 431 ellipical has developed a terrible squeak in the flywheel, and the brake system is failing to increase the resistant levels properly. Periodically, the computer console, for no apparent reason, will display an error during a workout, at which time, you have to push the resume button on the console to finish your workout. The workout programs on this machine are nice, but the elliptical itself is not worth the cheap workmanship. Do yourself a favor, save some money, and purchase a different machine. I certainly wouldn't purchase this machine again.
My wife greatly enjoys the 431 Schwinn Eliptical. Instructions were easy to follow for assembly. Took me approximately two hours. Whisper quiet in operation and a joy to use. Only comment is that the operating manual is a little tough to follow regarding programming various workouts. That's the one area that has received a negative comment. Amazon shipped this very quickly, approximately one week ahead of that originally indicated. Although no fault of their own, the local shipper charged with the final stage was a handful to work with. That will vary with each market and it's not fair to hold Amazon responsible for poor customer service with a local shipper.
Don't want to bore you with specs, so here is my 2 cents worth after using it a week or two. Positives: good price, free shipping from Amazon, ABF called ahead and coordinated delivery with me, sturdy build, good assembly instructions, heavy flywheel provides smooth action, only had to get the Dremel out to increase diameter of one of the bolt holes that refused to line up by a mm or two. Me, I consider that a positive on a complex piece. Not so positives: I thought I did my homework pretty well, but I must not have looked too hard for reviews concerning user height. I'm 5' 11'' or 6' and I find my shoes having up to an inch hanging off the back of the footrests. I have to hold the upright handles by the hard plastic knobby tops. Can't possibly hold the vertical foam part of the handles unless I was waaay shorter. I find myself wanting an extra 3 or 4 inches of foamy handlebar so I don't have to hold the hard plastic tops. Handlebars seem like they need to be a couple inches more away from me too. Makes for a not very good upper body workout. I find I would like the stride to be at least several inches longer as well. Clickity sounding fan is the size of a computer case fan and about as strong. First workout went very well until the 15 minute point then squeaks and grinds galore almost every time since. Most don't start until you are several minutes to 15 minutes into a 20 minute program. Sometimes they stop when you get off and don't start again for a few minutes making for a frustrating hunt. I got the expected handlebar squeak and stopped it by loosening the handlebar bolts several times to the point of feeling a little wobbly. Tightened and loosened others to experiment with a couple other squeaks. I discovered the grinding noise starting on the third or fourth workout came from the rubber wheel assembly being a little too tight. Get out the tools and clean the grit away and regrease...several hours invested in this type of activity after several hours of assembly. Verdict is go for it if you are no more than 5' 8" or 9" and don't mind taking things partially apart and cleaning and regreasing to hunt down noises. I just had my second noise free workout so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Well, I received the shipment today, it took about 3 hours to assemble, wasn't too hard at all. After I got it all done and pulled the AC adapter out of the box I saw that it was an AC - DC adapter and did not fit a standard outlet. I called the technical support and sent in pictures of the AC - DC adapter I got and they are "looking into it" because all their AC adapters fit standard outlets. In the mean time I'm using an extra AC adapter I had laying around the house. I did notice the squeaking about 20 mins into a workout...I saw that someone said loosening the screws will help with that. I'll have to try it in the morning. All in all I'm fairly happy with my purchase. I like that it's smaller then most and fits well into my small apartment. I'll update and let you all know how the technical support deals with my AC issue.
We used to own a NordicTrak elliptical. This Schwinn 431 is much quieter and smoother. After 3 weeks of two people using it 3-4 times/week, we only have one little "creak" in one of the foot pedals. While putting the unit together, one of the foot pedals had two broken mounts where the screws go into the plastic studs on the pedal. Schwinn had new pedals to me within 10 days. Also, the fan did not work. Schwinn wanted to sent me a new fan to fix the problem. Before them sending me a fan, I ask for the working voltage of the fan so I could do some in house troubleshooting first. I found that the fan worked fine when supplied externally with the required 9volts. Checking further, I discovered a broken power wire on the circuit board which supplies the fan. After re-soldering the wire to the board, the fan worked fine. Word of caution: This required professional working knowledge of electroncs, and the disasemmbly of the console for this fix. (I was in electroncs for 26 years in the military.) Had Schwinn sent me a new fan, the problem would not have been fixed until they also sent out a new console, which would have been at least 3 weeks. The only way this wire could have been broken was during the final assembly process, which shows that the fan was never checked prior to shipment of the product. But overall, the Schwinn 431 is very quiet, smooth, and stable. It is also much lighter than our old unit and easy to move using the lifting bar at the rear of the unit. The fan is a little disappointing in that it does not move as much air as I would like.
With its comfortable and compact design, and workout programs developed to help you reach your fitness goals, the Schwinn® 431 Elliptical trainer lets you make an impact where you want one... not where you don't.
Elliptical trainers provide an effective cardiovascular workout that combines upper and lower body flexibility and coordination into one impact-free motion. By emulating the natural motion of your foot while supporting your heel throughout the stride, elliptical trainers are much easier on your knees and joints. In addition to feeling more natural while working out, regular use on ellipticals will increase heart and lung capacity while improving your health and burning calories. The Schwinn 431 accommodates a wide variety of users, with a full-sized 18-inch stride length and bi-directional pedaling action that lets the user pedal forward or backward depending on the targeted muscle groups. Users will also appreciate the variety of workout programs, including three heart-rate controlled programs, a calorie goal program, a time trial, a fitness test, 10 profile programs, two custom programs, and a manual option. And thanks to the Eddy Current magnetic brake resistance system, the Schwinn 431 is smooth and quiet. Other details include an backlit LCD display with such feedback programs as Recovery Mode, Results Mode, and BMI; hand-grip heart rate monitors; a water bottle holder; and bottom wheels for easy transport. The Schwinn 431 measures 59 by 26 by 68 inches (L x W x H), weighs 172 pounds, and carries the following warranties: 15 years on the frame, two years on the parts, one year on the electronics, and 6 months on the labor. A blue backlit LCD display allows you to track your progress with feedback programs such as Recovery Mode, Results Mode, and BMI. A built-in cup holder helps you stay well hydrated while exercising. Key Features: Schwinn BioFit console design includes an integrated MP3/portable media compartment, on-console towel hook, fan and oversized cushioned footplates Schwinn BioDyne performance system includes a 25-pound (11.3 kg) steel flywheel and computer controlled drive system that provide high inertia for smooth strides Transport wheels for convenience, and oversized stabilizer tubes for rock-solid steadiness; biomechanically designed linkages to provide a comfortable movement of the foot throughout the elliptical motion Multi-program and feature-packed Schwinn BioConnect computer allows users to input data, measure a variety of workout results, and track progress Oversized bottle holder fits most beverage containers and may be removed and cleaned separately Specifications: Dimensions: 59 inches long by 26 inches wide by 68 inches tall Maximum User Weight: 300 pounds Power Requirements: AC Adapter Performance Features Resistance Levels: 16 Resistance System: ECB (Eddy Current Brake) Resistance Drive system: Computer Controlled Workout Programs: Manual, Profile, Calorie Goal, Time Trial, Heart Rate Control, Fitness Test, Custom Feedback Programs: BMI (Body Mass Index), Recovery Mode, Results Mode Heart Rate Monitor: Grip Heart Rate Monitor Computer Features Display Type: Blue Backlit LCD Display Readout: Time, Interval Time, RPM, Watts, Distance, Pulse, Speed, Calories, Resistance Manufacturer's Warranty Frame - 15 years, parts - 2 years, electronics - 1 year, labor - 6 months What's in the Box? Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer, user's manual, warranty information Compare these Schwinn Elliptical Trainers Schwinn 430 Schwinn 431 Schwinn 460 Style Front Drive Dual Action Front Drive Dual Action Variable Stride Dual Action Stride Length 18 inches 18 inches 2 to 26 inches Drive Train Poly V-belt Poly V-belt Poly V-belt Motion Forward/ Reverse Forward/ Reverse Forward/ Reverse Resistance Magnetic ECB Magnetic ECB Magnetic ECB Resistance Levels 16 16 16 Dimensions (L x W x H) 59" x 26" x 68" 59" x 26" x 68" 54" x 34" x 73" Product Weight 152 pounds 172 pounds 221 pounds Maximum User Weight 275 pounds 300 pounds 300 pounds Display LCD Backlit LCD Touch screen, backlit LCD Display Features Speed, time, distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval time, resistance Speed, time, distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval, time, resistance Time, interval time, RPM, watts, distance, pulse, speed, calories, resistance, course profile Heart Rate Grip Grip Chest strap with telemetry; grip on handlebars Programs 1 manual, 6 profile, 1 calorie goal, results mode, BMI test 1 manual, 10 profile, 2 heart rate control, 2 custom, time trial, calorie goal, fitness test, BMI test, recovery mode, results, mode 1 manual, 11 profile, 2 custom for two users Warranty Frame--15 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, labor--90 days Frame--15 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, labor--6 months Frame--10 years, parts--2 years, electronics--1 year, wear parts--90 days Other Features Transport wheels, bottle holder Transport wheels, bottle holder, 3-speed fan, MP3/iPod holder Fixed and moving handlebars, articulating foot plates, cooling fan, transport wheels, bottle holder About Elliptical Trainers Elliptical trainers represent the next wave of advancement in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical machines allow for a smooth and fluid motion while building strength in the arms and legs. Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With elliptical trainers, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips. Elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical trainers allow you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home. Although different types of elliptical trainers offer an assortment of features, many of them include an array of challenging programs, forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a lightweight portable design with easy fold-up capability, and a monitor displaying calories burned, distance, speed, time, and heart rate. Other types of exercise machines, namely treadmills and bikes, offer excellent cardiovascular exercise and muscular training for the legs in a forward-motion exercise. Elliptical trainers take this to the next level by offering an upper and lower body workout with dual motion, challenging and diverse programs, and a low-impact exercise machine that won't strain sensitive joints.